In a surprising move, Apple News+ subscribers now have access to The Athletic, a renowned sports journalism website, despite its ownership by The New York Times. The unexpected inclusion comes as part of Apple’s efforts to expand its content offerings within its subscription service.
The announcement, made in an official press release, marks a notable addition for sports enthusiasts, allowing them to access The Athletic seamlessly through their Apple News+ or Apple One Premier subscription. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing his role as a devoted reader of The Athletic.
“Like so many lifelong sports fans, I am a devoted reader of The Athletic and their fantastic sports reporting and local coverage. We’re so proud to now bring sports fans The Athletic in Apple News+ — which millions of News+ subscribers are going to love.”
David Perpich, publisher of The Athletic, echoed the sentiment, stating, “The Athletic is home to award-winning, deeply reported coverage of teams, leagues, and players for devoted fans around the world. We provide subscribers with every sports story that matters, brought to life by the most talented newsroom in the business. We’re thrilled to work with Apple News to introduce even more readers to the best-in-class journalism that only The Athletic can produce.”
The Athletic boasts a formidable newsroom with over 450 full-time writers, editors, and producers, covering a spectrum of sports including the English Premier League, NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLS, PGA, and more. Apple News+ subscribers in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Australia will have access to The Athletic’s extensive sports coverage.
While The Athletic makes its debut on Apple News+, another New York Times-owned publication, Wirecutter, is also set to join the Apple News app, scheduled to appear in early 2023.
However, this development does not signal a return of The New York Times to the Apple News platform. In 2020, The New York Times exited Apple News Plus and the Apple News app entirely, and as of now, there is no official indication of any plans for the newspaper’s return.
